Amendments To Executive Order 9397 Relating To Federal Agency Use of Social Security Numbers
Headline: Amends Rules on Federal Agency Use of Social Security Numbers
What it does: Agencies must follow the amended order allowing optional use of Social Security numbers and implement changes consistent with law and available appropriations.
- Gives agencies discretion whether to use Social Security numbers.
- Requires agencies to protect personal identifiers from unlawful use.
- Implementation depends on law and available appropriations; no private right.
Summary
This order updates the long-standing rule on how federal agencies use Social Security numbers and emphasizes protecting personal identifiers from unlawful use.
It changes mandatory language ("shall") to permissive language ("may"), removes a requirement that SSNs be used exclusively, updates legal citations and agency names, and adds that the order must be carried out only as allowed by law and available funding. It also states the order does not create new legal rights for individuals.
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